Elkhart County Clerk reminds people of absentee voting options
Sep. 13—GOSHEN — Elkhart County Clerk Christopher Anderson reminds registered voters in Elkhart County that there are multiple options for those who would like to vote absentee before Election Day.
As this is a Presidential General Election, all registered voters are eligible to participate. To check voter registration, visit , and click on the "Check Voting Status" button.
This website is also the easiest way for a voter to update their voter registration or file a new voter registration.
In-person early voting will begin at 8 a.m. Tuesday, Oct. 8. Voters should watch the newspaper for an official announcement for times and locations for in-person early voting. The Election Board will also be sending a post-card to every residential address in Elkhart County with details about voting early in-person.
Voters may also vote absentee by mail, if they qualify.
Some of the qualifying reasons to vote absentee by mail are:
—Expecting to be out of town on Election Day
—Expecting to be confined on Election Day due to illness or injury
—Expecting to be caring for a confined person on Election Day
—If a person is a voter with disabilities
—If a voter is at least 65 years of age
—If a voter will have official election duties outside their voting precinct
—If a voter is scheduled to work the entire 12 hours the polls are open on Election Day
—If a voter is unable to vote on Election Day due to observance of a religious discipline or religious holiday the entire 12 hours the polls are open
—If a voter is a member of the military or is a public safety officer
An absentee voter who is unable to mark their own ballot or sign the ballot security envelope must vote by travel board. Contact the Election Board for more information.
An application for an absentee voting ballot by mail can be requested by contacting the Election Board at 574-535-6469. The Election Board will ask for some information and mail the application to the voter for them to complete and return. Voters who wish to vote by mail are now required by Indiana State statute to supply their complete Indiana Driver's License, State ID number or the last four digits of their Social Security number. This is located in Section 3 of the Absentee Ballot By Mail application.
Early voting by mail applications can also be submitted through the online voter portal at , by clicking the "Vote By Mail" button. A voter will need to have their Indiana Driver's License or State ID number or the last four digits of their Social Security number.
The deadline for the Election Board to receive an application to vote Absentee By Mail is 11:59 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 24. Applications are accepted by mail, by fax to 574-535-6471, by email to or by hand-delivery to the Election Board, 101 N. Main, Room 204, Goshen.
In addition to in-person absentee voting and Absentee By Mail, a voter is qualified to vote by traveling absentee voter board if they are confined, ill or have been injured; if they are caring for a confined person, or if they are a voter with disabilities and believe the polling places available to them on Election Day are not accessible. To vote Absentee By Traveling Board, a voter can contact the Election Board at 574-535-6469 to request an absentee travel board ballot application. The deadline for the Election Board to receive the application is noon Monday, Nov. 4, but can be submitted at any earlier time. Remember, the earlier the application is received, the more successful the process will be.
Once the application is received and approved, the Election Board will make contact with the voter to schedule a date and time that a bi-partisan absentee travel board can visit the voter to assist them with casting their ballot. Absentee By Traveling Board begins on Thursday, Oct. 17.
Voters can view the candidates that will be on their ballot by providing basic information at by clicking the "Who's On My Ballot" icon. The Election Board can also mail a sample ballot to a voter upon request. Call 574-535-6469 during office hours from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Mondays, and 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday through Friday.
All Hoosier voters are strongly encouraged to make sure their voter registration information is accurate and up to date, ensuring their voice will be heard on Election Day. Questions may be directed to the Elkhart County Voter Registration Office at 574-535-6775 or 574-535-6774, the Elkhart County Clerk's Office at 574-535-6469, or the Hoosier Voter Hotline at 866-IN-1-VOTE.
